Bike enthusiasts from throughout the region will be in Vicksburg this weekend for the ninth annual Bricks and Spokes Bicycle Ride.

Saturday’s event is one of the more popular rides for bicyclists as it covers not only the Old Mississippi River Bridge, but also through downtown and the historic Vicksburg National Military Park.

Starting on South Street, the ride takes cyclists across the Old Mississippi River Bridge into Louisiana and back into Mississippi through the VNMP. Participants have the choice between a 10, 30, 50 or 62-mile course with the 30-mile course going through a portion of VNMP and the 50 and 62-miles courses going through the entire park.

“Unbelievable, you can’t beat that terrain,” Stuart Keyes, who came from Monroe, La. for the 62-mile ride last year, said of Bricks and Spokes. “The military park is as good a riding as anywhere in the south. It is hilly, it is historic, you don’t have to worry about cars flying by you because everybody in the park is taking it easy and enjoy their day so it is safe. We love to come over here in riding.”

The military park was included in the ride for the first time last year thanks to a partnership between Bricks and Spokes and Bike Your Park Day, a national program organized by the Adventure Cycling Association.

The unique chance to ride across the Old Mississippi River Bridge into Louisiana and back into Mississippi is a big draw among the bicyclists.

“It is an unbelievable feeling,” Keyes said of riding across the bridge. “When we were coming back across and you had chance to see the wind blowing, the flag flying, the barges going underneath, it is pretty neat. How many times do you ride in two states in one day?”

More than 170 bicyclists participated in last year’s event and organizers are expecting at least that many Saturday.

Riders this year will also have the opportunity to ride along with professional cyclist and Vicksburg native Lauren Hall. She is a member of the UnitedHealthcare Procycling Team. Professional cyclist Brad Huff is also scheduled to participate Saturday.

For more information on Bricks and Spokes, visit bricksandspokes.racesonline.com.